Ballasts?????

[mikesommers]

Is anyone using Icecap Metal Halide ballasts and what do you think of them?

[Skriz]

I used to. Got rid of them for better ballasts. They're not the company they used to be.

[mikesommers]

Originally Posted by Skriz

I used to. Got rid of them for better ballasts. They're not the company they used to be.

What are you running now?

[Skriz]

Sunlight supply and pfo

[grouper therapy]

Originally Posted by Skriz

Sunlight supply and pfo

Which PFO?

[Skriz]

Originally Posted by grouper therapy

Which PFO?

Bought just before the closed up shop: 400W HQI and 250W HQI

[johnr2604]

I miss PFO

[rolo65]

I have a icecap mh ballast I got from rob a while ago....it's the older one....works great....haven't heard much about the newer ones though

[Mockery]

Originally Posted by johnr2604

I miss PFO

It is working great at my house.

But yes I too wish the company still around.

[mikesommers]

I looked a some sunlight supply ballasts. Just was not sure.

[mikesommers]

Originally Posted by Skriz

Sunlight supply and pfo

Are you using the Blue Wave hqi ballast or the Galaxy electronic.

[grouper therapy]

If you decide you want a 400 watt PFO hqi type ballast It is nothing more than a 430 watt HPS ballast from venture.

[MarkL]

I bought Galaxy to run radiums .

[mikesommers]

Originally Posted by grouper therapy

If you decide you want a 400 watt PFO hqi type ballast It is nothing more than a 430 watt HPS ballast from venture.

I am thinking either Galaxy or CoralVue. Both have the same price unless I go with the dimmable. As far as wattage goes I don't plan on an increase at this point. I plan on running Radiums or Helios. I just don't want to end up trapped on the brand of bulb I have to run. I have read that radiums do very well on an hqi type ballast, but will that limit me from say using a probe start like ushio if I wanted. I like options if you know what I mean.

[mikesommers]

Originally Posted by MarkL

I bought Galaxy to run radiums .

have you checked par on this setup?

[grouper therapy]

Originally Posted by mikesommers

I am thinking either Galaxy or CoralVue. Both have the same price unless I go with the dimmable. As far as wattage goes I don't plan on an increase at this point. I plan on running Radiums or Helios. I just don't want to end up trapped on the brand of bulb I have to run. I have read that radiums do very well on an hqi type ballast, but will that limit me from say using a probe start like ushio if I wanted. I like options if you know what I mean.

The 430 watt hps aka pfo hqi will fire any bulb.. probe or pulse that being said it will fire a radium but it overdrives it so much that too much of the blue is lost imo. Helios and EVC tend to maintain the blue a little better than others when over driven. According to some people the helios have a higher fail rate when driven by PFO HQI ballast, I've not experienced that. If you want to run radiums it definitely will look better and perform better on electronic ballast according to most who run them.

[johnr2604]

Originally Posted by mikesommers

I am thinking either Galaxy or CoralVue. Both have the same price unless I go with the dimmable. As far as wattage goes I don't plan on an increase at this point. I plan on running Radiums or Helios. I just don't want to end up trapped on the brand of bulb I have to run. I have read that radiums do very well on an hqi type ballast, but will that limit me from say using a probe start like ushio if I wanted. I like options if you know what I mean.

The pulse start will fire all the bulbs, A probe start will only fire probe start bulbs.

[mikesommers]

Originally Posted by johnr2604

The pulse start will fire all the bulbs, A probe start will only fire probe start bulbs.

I actually found an article last night that stated some HQI ballasts will damage probe start bulbs due to the starter that exists inside the bulb. It can actually cause a short bulb life and sudden failure. An electronic ballast has control of its starting voltage and will run any bulb. HQI Pulse start ballast have a very high starting voltage as apposed to a probe start ballast is very low. I will find that link it had some cool info in it about ballasts.

[mikesommers]

I am thinking dimmable CoralVue. I can get them from John, they can over drive and under drive, and I have owned a CoralVue ballast in the past it was an excellent ballast!

[grouper therapy]

Originally Posted by mikesommers

I am thinking dimmable CoralVue. I can get them from John, they can over drive and under drive, and I have owned a CoralVue ballast in the past it was an excellent ballast!

I'd like to try one with an Helios or EVC bulb. I was unaware that they would overdrive. I guess that it depends on the bulb as well as to how much they overdrive since the definition of overdrives varies with different bulbs.